Today’s wine review, written by Michael Olivier, tells us about a delicious Merlot from Waterkloof.
One of the wineries which really impressed Neil Pendock and me when tasting for our wine book The People’s Guide is Waterkloof, a relatively new cellar in Somerset West on the western edges of the Stellenbosch appellation.
It’s fabulous restaurant, recently opened, has stunning views of False Bay through floor to ceiling windows.
Waterkloof is owned by Mancunian Wine Merchant Paul Boutinot, and has recently launched 2007 vintage double act under its Circumstance label a Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon.
Up on the slopes of the Schapenberg famed as one of the finest cool climate vineyard sites in South Africa and home to Morgenster, Vergelegen, Onderkloof and Journey’s End Waterkloof’s small amphitheatre of vineyards is defined by a unique set of circumstances which shapes the wines. These conditions range from the mix of soils to the altitude and particular micro-climate of each individual vineyard, hence the name of the estate’s
Circumstance range.
Waterkloof’s climate is especially good for growing Merlot. Cool weather during the growing season is beneficial to the varietal character, colour and structure of the grapes, ensuring a balanced natural acidity, ripe tannins and terrific concentrated flavours. The grapes for the Circumstance Merlot 2007 are harvested from 12-year old, elevated vineyards on the
estate, planted at 260 meters above sea level.
The Merlot grapes were fermented in open top wooden fermenters and in his pursuit for more individually styled wines, winemaker Werner Engelbrecht relied only on naturally present, wild yeasts during fermentation. Manual punch downs were used during fermentation to maximise colour and tannin extraction and the wines stayed on the skins for 25 to 30 days. He also
relies on the use of gravity to avoid excessive pumping of the wine.
The Circumstance Merlot 2007 was then aged in new and 2nd fill French barrels for 20 months.
The Merlot is silky smooth and I liked the presence of rounded tannins which augur well if the wine is to be laid down for a year or two. Layer upon layer of dark berries and the expected plums spiced with cracked fennel seed. Lovely long aftertaste.
Great with red meats off braai, from under grill or out of the oven.
Well priced at R125. Waterkloof has a fabulously priced range of wines under the False bay label offering great bang for your buck these can be tasted at the winery which as they say in the Guide Michelin is well worth the detour.
